Control apparatus



Nov. 1 1,515,208-

I H. H. JOH-NSTION CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13 1920 WITNESS ES: INVENTOR Howard lfJa/bosfm ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES. PATENT orrlca.

HOWARD JOHNSTON, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TC WEST- INGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed February 13, 1920. Serial No. 358,522.

To aZ Z whom. it 1'22 ag concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD H. J HNSTON,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus and it has special relation to drum-controller devices and the like for governing various circuits in a predetermined sequence.

One object of myinvention is to provide, in combination with a drum controller, an auxiliary contacting device which shall always be opened or closed prior'to movement of the control drum proper, whereby a line switch governed by the auxiliary device shall be caused to take all of the arcing set up by making or breaking the'circuit, thus preventing burning or otherdeterioration of the main controller segments.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple compaot and reliable device of small size for attachment to a drum controller and which may be operated by the motorman in the same manner as the ordinary drum controller.

More specifically stated, it is an object ot-my invention to provide an auxiliary contacting device which is pivotally mounts edgfwithin a recess in the drum s aft-and is engaged b a push button which, in turn, is vactuated y a portion of the operating handle prior to movement of the control drum" proper.

Viewed from another angle, it is an object of my invention to provide an operating handle member for drum controllers comprising a shank that is provided with a transverse slot through which the grip extends and a lever fulcrumed onthe shank and operated by initial lateral movement.

of the gri for actuating the above-mentioned pus -button device.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in conjunction with an auxiliary contact-making member of theclass set forth,-

a stationary contact member of arcuate form which may be engaged by the contact-making member during a predetermined range of travel of the drum shaft.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein-- Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a drum 'controller constructed in accordance with my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view serving to illustrate the circuit connections effected by w my auxiliary contacting device.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawmg, the structure here shown comprises a drum controller of a familiariype. embody ing a curved front encasing member 1, a-

top cover-plate 2, a rotatable control drum 3 and an associated finger-board 4, together with my auxiliary contacting device 5, which is located above the cover-plate 2 and an operating handle 6 for the entire apparatus. The control drum 3 is adapted to occupy a preliminary position a and a plurality of operative positions I), 0, etc. and carries a plurality of suitable maincircuit contact segments 10 and an auxiliary-circuit contact segment 11 for governing the desired circuits in the proper sequence. A plurality of co-operating control fingers 12 are mountedupon the fingerboard 4 in alinement with the various sections of the contact segments.

The operating shaft 13 for the control drum 3 extends upwardly through the cover-plate 2 and, near its outer end, is provided with an intern-a1 aperture or right-angled opening 14. A square sleeve member 15 encloses that portion of the operating shaft 13 that projects above the cover-plate 2 and extends above the end of the shaft for a material distance. A

push-button 16 is located within the cylined within the horizontal portion of the shaft recess 14, being pivotally mounted therein by means of a pin 20. The arrangement of parts is such that the lower end of the pin 17 and the right-hand end of the lever arm 19 are in engagement, for a purposeto be set forth. A contact block 21 is secured to the other end of the lever arm 19 and carries a pair of contact members 22 from which leads or conductors 22a extend a point within the controller casing. A bridging contact member 23 of arcuate form is located in confronting relation to the movable contact members 22, being suitably secured to the underside of the upper face of a cylindrical casing or inverted cup member 24 of insulating material or of suitably insulated metal. The cup 24 is arranged to entirely enclose the operating parts, thus resting upon the cover-plate 2 and having a central opening tightly fitting around the sleeve 15.

end of the. shank 30 and normally occupies the illustrated position at one end of the slot. A lever or bent strip 33 follows the contour of the upper face of the shank 30;

being fulcrumed at a point 34 near the grip 31, and its outer end being disposed between the grip.31 and the outer end of the shank 30 and fitting. aroundthe grip pin 31a. The other end of the lever 33 normally reposes beside the head of the push-button 16; as indicated in solid lines in Fig. 2.

Assuming that the'various parts of the controller occupy the illustrated positions, the operation of the controller may be set forth as follows. Upon the usual initial lateral or rota'tive movement of the grip 31, the pin 31a slides through the slot 32 and carries the lever arm 33 with it. The other end of the lever 33 slides overthe head of the push-button 16, as indicated by dot-anddash lines in Fig. 2, and causes a complete depression thereof, in opposition to the action of the spring 18, by the time that the grip pin 31 reaches the other end of the transverse slot 32. Such depression of the push-button 16 correspondingly depresses one end of the lever arm 19 and, consequently, causes the movable contact member 22 to engage the stationary contact strap 23, 111 this way closing a gap in the hue-switch control circuit, as will be traced in detail in connection with'Fig. 3.

It should be noted that the outer end of the lever 33 overhangs the shank 30. Consequently, if the motorman attempts to operate the controller by grasping the shank in lieu of the grip 31, the desired initial lateral movement of the lever 33 and consequent operation of the auxiliary contacting device 4 5 inherently occurs.

As soon as the auxiliary contacting device 5 has been fully closed in the forth, continued lateral or rotatlve movement of the handle grip 31 causes rotation of the drum shaft 13 to first effect engagement of the main contact segments 10 and control fingers 12 and then effect engagement between the auxiliary-circuit contact segment 11 and the corresponding control finger 12, in position a, to complete the lineswitch control circuit. In this way, the usual lateral movement of the controller handle 6 first effects closure of the auxiliary contacting device and then produces movement of the main control drum to effect successive engagement between control fingers 12 and contact segments 10 and 11. These successive operations may be effected without any additional thought or care upon the part of the motorman, who may actuate the operating handle by a continuous movement without stopping when the grip pin 31 reaches the end of the transverse slot 32. Furthermore, the closure of the line switch,

by contact segment 11,following the circuit connection of the segments 10, precludes the possibility of burning the main segments 10.

When it is desired to return the controller to its oil position, the reverse lateral or rotative movement of the handle grip 31 first causes the grip pin 31a to slide through the slot 32 and thus actuate the lever arm 33 to its normal position beside the push button 16, which is thus automatically returned to its upper or open-circuit position by means of the spring 18. As soon as this action has occurred to cause an open-circuiting of the auxiliary contact device 5, the grip pin 31a engages the other end of the transverse slot 32 and effects a backward movement of the control drum shaft 13.

In this Way, the auxiliary contactin r dcvice 5 is always actuated, either to its 0 osed or to its open position, prior to the corresponding movement of the control drum 3.

Referring to the diagram of connections, Fig. 3, the partial system shown comprises co-operating contact members 11 and 12 of the control drum 3, co-operating contact members 22 and 23 of the auxiliary contacting device 5, a line switch LS for effecting connection of a -car-propellin motor to the supply circuit (not shown) an a battery B or other source of energy for the actuating coil'of the line switch.

Assuming that the above-described actuation of the operating handle 6 occurs to-eii'ect engagement of the auxiliary contact memanner set bers 22 and 23, a circuit is established from the positive terminal of the battery B through conductor 40, co-operating contact members 23 and 22 of the auxiliary contacting device 5, conductor 41, actuating c011 42 of the line switch, conductor 43, control finger 12 and contact segment 11 of the control drum 3, as soon as movement thereof to preliminary position a has occurred, and thence, through Ground and conductor 44, to the negative terminal of the battery B. The line switch LS is thus closed to complete the starting circuit of the car-propelling motor after a movement of the main controldrum 3 is sufficient to connect the .main contact segments 10 in circuit occurs.

As soon as the line switch has closed, a holding circuit for the actuating coil thereof is completed from the lower terminal of the coil through conductor 45, interlock 4t; m the in or closed position of the switch, and conductor ,47 to Ground. In this Way, the energization of the actuating coil 42 1s rendered independent of the subsequent movement of the control drum 3.

However, upon backward movement of the operating handle 6 to effect opening of the auxiliary contacting device 5, as described above, the line switch LS is deenergized and opened, and the closure thereof cannot be again effected until the controller is returned to its initial positlon a to effect re-engagement of contact segment 11 and control finger 12. I

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific circuit connections, structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed upon my invention as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: v

, .1. In a controller, the combination with a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device, of a plural-part handle member, and means actuated by one handle-member part, upon initial movement thereof, to impart a direct and positive circuit-closing movement to sad auxiliary device and, upon subsequent movement, to impart a circuit-closing move- (Ill ment to said main device.

2. In a controller, the combination'wi-th a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device, of a handle having a body member attached to said main device, said body member hav ing an opening, and a grip extending through said opening, and means actuated by movement of said grip along said opening for actuating said auxiliary device prior to said main device.

3. In a controller, the combination with a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device,

of a handle having a shank attached to said main device, said shank having a transverse slot, and a grip extending through said slot, and means actuated by lateral movement of said grip along said slot for actuatin said auxiliary device prior to movement 0 said main device.

4. In a controller, a combination with a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device. of a handle having a body member attached to said main device, said body member having an opening, and a grip extending through said opening, and a lever having one end movable with said grip for actuating said auxiliary device prior to said main device.

5. In a controller, the combination with a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device, of a handle having a shank attached tosaid main device, said shank having a transverse slot, and a grip extending through said slot, and a lever fulcrumed on said shank and having one end movable with said grip for actuating said auxiliary device prior to movement of said main device.

6. In a controller, the combination with a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device, of resilient means for actuating said auxiliary device, a handle having a body member attached to said main device, said body member having an opening, and a grip extending through said opening, and means actuated by movement of said grip along said opening for engaging said resilient means prior to movement of said main device.

7. In a controller, the combination with a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device, of a push-button for actuating said auxiliary device, a handle having a shank attached to said main device, said shank having a transverse slot, and a grip extending through-said slot, and means .actuated by lateral movement of said grip along said slot for actuating said push-button prior to movement of said main device.

8. In a controller, the combination with a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device, of a push-button for actuating said auxiliary device, a handle having a shank attached to said main device, said shank having a transverse slot, and a grip extending through said slot, and a lever fulcrumed on said shank and having one end movable with said grip for actuating said push-button prior to movement of said mam device.

9. In a controller, the combination with a control drum having an operating shaft and an.auxi1iary contacting device, of. a push-button located in one end of said shaft for actuating said auxiliary device, a. handle having a shank attached to said shaft, said shank having a transverse slot, and a grip extending through said slot, and "a lever fulmovable by said grip, the other end being.

adapted to slide over said push-button and actuate said auxiliary device prior to movement of said shaft.

10. In a controller, the combination with a control drum having an operating shaft,

of an oscill'atable contact-making member pivotally associated with said shaft, an

\ operating'ha-ndle member, and means oper-' ated by initial lateral movement thereof for actuating only said contact-making member to closed position.

11. In a controller, the combination with a control drum having an operating shaft,

of an oscillatable contact-making member pivotally. associated with said shaft, a push-button engaging one end of said member, an operating handle member, and means active upon initial lateral movement thereof for actuating said push-button to effect movement of said contact-making member to closed position.

12. In a controller, the combination with acontrol drum having an operating shaft, of an oscillatable contact-making member pivotally mounted within a recess in said shaft, a push-button engaging one end of said member within said recess, an operating handle member, and means actuated by lateral movement thereof to engage said push-button to operate said contact-making member prior to movement of said control drum.

13. In a controller, the combination with a control drum having an operating shaft, of an oscillatablecontact-making member ,pivotally mounted within a recess in said shaft, a ush-button engaging one end of said mem r within sa1d recess, an operatlng handle having a shank provided with a slot and having a grip extending through said slot, and a lever fulcrumed on said shank and actuated by said grip to engage said push-button to operate said contact-making member pivotally mounted within said aperture to normally occupy its lowermost position, and a stationary arcuate member positioned to be engaged by said contact making member throughout the operating range of said shaft.

15. In a controller, the combination with.

a drum having an operating shaft provided with an aperture, of a contact-making member pivotally mounted within said aperture to normally occupy its lowermost position, a casing for said member, and a co-operating contact member of arcuate form on the inner upper face of said casing for maintaining engagement with said contactmaking member through a predetermined range of travel of said shaft.

16. In a rotatable controller, the combination with a main and an auxiliary circuitclosing device, of a member attached to said main device, and a lever overhanging said body member and adapted upon lateral movement across the axis of rotation of said controller to actuate said auxiliary device prior to movement of said main device.

17. In a controller, the combination wit-h a main and an auxiliary circuit-closing device, of a handle having a shank attached to said main device, a push-button positioned to operate said auxiliary device, and a lever fulcrumed upon said shank and overhanging one side thereof to actuate said pushbutton, upon lateral movement of the lever HOWARD H. JOHNSTON.

handle having a body 

